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Log Cabin Republicans of NY State Join ‘New Yorkers United For Marriage’

4/21/2011

Momentum Continues as Key Republican Organization Joins Movement to Make Marriage Equality a Reality this Year

(NEW YORK) – The Log Cabin Republicans of New York State are signing on to the newly created ‘New Yorkers United for Marriage,’ coalition effort to pass marriage legislation during the 2011 legislative session, the organization announced today. With the addition of the Log Cabin Republicans, the coalition now includes all five leading LGBT rights organizations operating in New York State.

The announcement by the Log Cabin Republicans of New York–representing Republicans who support fairness, freedom and equality for gay and lesbian Americans–reflects the bipartisan support in New York State for allowing all loving and committed couples to marry. Support from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will be needed for passage.

“Marriage is not a progressive or conservative issue. It’s an issue of equal rights for taxpaying citizens of this state,” said Gregory T. Angelo, Chairman of the Log Cabin Republicans of New York State. “For the first time, we are truly united in our fight to ensure every single New Yorker has the right to marry the person he or she loves.”

“We are thrilled to have Log Cabin Republicans join the coalition,” said Brian Ellner of the Human Rights Campaign. “It was a bipartisan coalition that repealed “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” and it will be a bipartisan coalition that will win marriage here in New York.”

The formation of ‘New Yorkers United For Marriage,’ announced yesterday, will build on the growing momentum for marriage and strategic outreach efforts already in place across the state, with the goal of enacting a bill before the end of the current legislative session.

The new partnership comes amid polls showing that a growing majority of New Yorkers – 58 percent - support gay and lesbian couples’ right to marry. The issue also has the staunch backing of Governor Cuomo, who has made marriage a priority of his legislative agenda.

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Log Cabin Republicans is the nation’s only organization of Republicans who support fairness, freedom and equality for gay and lesbian Americans. Log Cabin has state and local chapters nationwide, a full-time office in Washington, D.C., a federal political action committee and state political action committees.

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New Yorkers United for Marriage is a coalition of leading New York LGBT rights organizations fighting so that all couples in New York State have the freedom to marry the person they love.

The Empire State Pride Agenda is the statewide civil rights and advocacy group committed to achieving full equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) New Yorkers and our families. For twenty years we have been educating policymakers, elected officials and the public, building coalitions and mobilizing allies, lobbying government officials, administering a Political Action Committee, and organizing and empowering the LGBT community.
Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win marriage nationwide. We are pursuing our Roadmap to Victory by working to win the freedom to marry in more states, grow the national majority for marriage, and end federal marriage discrimination. We partner with individuals and organizations across the country to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage and the protections, responsibilities, and commitment that marriage brings.
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
Marriage Equality New York (MENY) is a grassroots, volunteer based, single-issue organization dedicated to securing the right for all New Yorkers to enter into legally recognized civil marriages. With local chapters throughout New York State, MENY is leading the fight for equality, helping educate local and state politicians and candidates to support equal marriage rights legislation.